Explosive-turbine.



G. ERLINGER.

EXPLOSIVE TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5, 1914.

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G. ERLINGER.

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EXPLOSIVE TURBNE.

APPLICATmN FILED FEB. 5. 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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G. ERLINGER.

-EXPLOS|VE TURBINE.

APPLlcATIoN FILED FEB.5,1914.

Lmjlli Patented 1m28, 1915.

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GEORGE ERLINGER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TQ ALBERT 0. TROSTEL AND ONE-TWENTIETH T0 ADRIAN A. 'WEDEMEYJER, BOTH 0F MIL- WAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

EXPLOSIVE-TURJBINE.

application led February 5, 1914. Serial No. 816,685.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ERLINGER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Milwaukee, countyv of lMilwaukee, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas turbines, and refers more particularly to that type of explosive turbine which opcrates by virtue of a chargeof live gas exploding and directly impinging upon the turbine wheel.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a self-contained gas turbine which utilizes the full explosive force of a mixture of gas and air exploded in a p separate chamber adjacent to the propeller wheel; to provide, in an explosive gas turbine-of the class described, a turbine member composed of a series of propeller wheels through which the exploded mixture passes successively, the wheels successively increasing in capacity as the exploded mixture passes from one to the other; to provide, in a gas turbine of the class described, a central propeller wheel with a double row of buckets or impeller blades upon which the exploded mixture impinges initially and then divides into a pair of substantially equal streams passing through a series of wheels on each side of the double. central wheel, and successively increasing in size until two exhaust openings are reached at the ends of the turbine chamber; to provide, in a gas turbine of the class described, a con# struction which will admit of the Auseof one,"

or a plurality of explosive chambers and pressure nozzles arranged aroundthe periphery of the central impeller disk; to provide a construction in which thegases in passing from one wheel to another are held in engagement with each wheel during a comparatively small portion'of a revolution, and then pass diagonally across the face of the turbine to the-next impeller disk, the main direction of travel of the gases being substantially in the same generalrdirection as the direction of rotation of the turbine; to provide, in a turbine ofthe class 'described,a detonating chamber which is ar ranged to receive an explosive mixture under compression, explode Athe' latter while still undery compression, keep the charge under confinement until a high pressure has developed, and finally admit the exploded mixture to the turbine nozzle; to provide a construction in which the spent gases as they pass from the detonating chamber and through the turbine are followed by a scavenging charge of fresh air, the gases in their passagethrough the turbine tendingvto augment this elfect by sucking the aixl folv y lowing; to provide a construction in which the impelling gas consists of a `series of separate and independent exploded mixtures separated by greater or less intervals, depending upon the amount of power de manded from the turbine,`and independent of its speed of rotation; to provide a construction in which the power or speed of the turbine, or both, may be regulated, either by varying the richness or pressure of each individual charge, or by decreasing or increasing the number of charges or explosions per minute; to provide aconstruction in which theadmission of gas, exhaustion of the latter and admission of the scavenging air are' all accomplished by means of a single cylindri# cal, ported valve which oscillates or rotates 'continuously within the detonatingl chamber and forms the inner shell thereof, the valve being actuated bv an independent motor on the exterior of the detonating chamber; to provide an improved gas turbine which will be bothextremely simple in operation and economical in construction; and in general to provide an improved explosive turbine of cross section of Fig. l, taken through one of the central turbine disks; Fig. 4 is a section'ta'ken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5" is across section of the detonating chamber and valve, and a portion of the periphery of the turbine casing; Fig. 5L is a fragmentary section along the line 5a of'- Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, the valve having been removed;

` rota ting l element.

Fig. 6a is a section through Fig. 6 along the line 6a; Fig. 7 shows the rotary valve removed from the detonating chamber; Fig. 8 is an endelevation of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9

shows the details of the ignition mechanism.

`Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an air receiver or tank, upon the upper side of which is mounted the turbine casing 2 and gasolene tank 3. The tank 1 is kept fully charged with air under pressure by the air pumps 4, which. as shown in Fig. 2, aredriven b v the main turbine-shaft 6. upon the endI of which isl mounted a small pinion 7 operating the pistons of the air pumps through suitable reduction gearing and crank connections. Although I have shown tbe air pumps as being driven from the shaft of the turbine itself in order to make the apparatus self-contained. anv suitable source of compressed air or eXternallv-operated pump mav be used to keep the tank 1 full of air under pressure. From the top of the tank 1 proiects a 'pipe 8 which admits air under pressure through the valve 9 to tbe top of the gasolene tank 3. thus maintaining pressure on the surface of the liouid. which thus fed to the gasolene reservoir 10 under a considerablepressure.

The detonatinfz` chamber 11 is bolted to a suitable gas-tight seat 12 on the side of the turbine casing` and cooling is effected bv an annular water-iacket 13, which. when the chamber 11 is bolted to the seat 12. forms a continuation of the main water-chamber 14 extending around the circumference of the main turbine-casing outside of the interior ca sings for tbe impeller wheels proper. Water is also circulated through subsidiarv, annular Water-chambers 15. situated between each adiacent pair of turbine disks, and connected to the outer iacket b v openings at the top and bottom of the casing. The *entire turbine casing is split horizontallv to permit the ready insertion of the The circulating pump for the cooling Water is not illustrated in tbe drawings. but is connected to the pipe 16. tbe inlet to the lower part yof the water chamber also being omitted from the drawings.

Within tbe cvlindrical detonating chamber 11 oscillates the valve 17. which comprises a simple. hollow cvlindrical casting having an exhaust port 18 and inlet port 19, leakage of gas being preventedbv the two circumferential rings 20 and 21 located in grooves in the periphery of the valve. The back of the valve has an annular recess 22. which communicates with the interior of the valve bv a pair of ecualizing ports 23. The purpose of this annular chamber 22 is to admit gas under pressure at the back of the valve, so that thes 'latter will always be forced inwardly toward .the center ofthe turbine, insuring a gas-tight joint between the inner end of the valve and the adj accnt bearing face of the detonating chamber. The valve 17 is actuated through a shaft 12 which projects through and has bearing in a head 25 bolted to the outer end of the detonating chamber.

I have illustrated as a means of actuating the shaft 12a a small air-motor designated as a whole 26, bolted to the side of the tur bine casing, and driven by a supply of compressed air taken from the main tank 1 through the regulating valve 27. This airmotor may be of any ordinary type such as is used in pneumatic percussion devices and exhausts into the end of the hollow turbine shaft through the pipe 2G and the loose fitting cylindrical cap 27. This current of air in its passage through the shaft is of material assistance in cooling the wheels. The shaft 12a of the detonating valve is connected to the piston rod 28 of the air-motor by means of a slotted crank 29 engaged by the sliding crank pin 30 on the end of the piston rod. The rod 31 controlling the slide valve of the air-motor is pivotally connected to a lilik 32the other endof which is attached to a small, subsidiary crank 33. It is obvious that if the valve 27 be opened, air under pressure will reciprocate the piston 28, and the valve 17 will thus oscillate back and forth a definite angular amount controlled by the length of the stroke of the air-motor 2G.

Air for scavenging purposes is admitted from the tank 1 through the pipe 34 to the detonating chamber by the radiallyopening port 35. fuel beng supplied through asimilar port 3G in the same vertical plane as the port 35, but angularly spaced from the latter. At the proper angular point between and in the same vertical plane as the ports 35 and 3G is situated an orifice 37, which contains the end of the spark plug 38 screwed into the aperture from the outside of the detonating chamber. The apertures 35, 37 and 36 are arranged the proper distance from the head of the valve to be successively in register with the port 19 in the valve 17 as it oscillates within the detonating chamber. The high-pressure eX- ploded mixture is admitted to the initial nozzle 39 through a port 10` in the inner end of the detonating chamber, the port 18 in the valve being properlyL located to register with the admission port 40 at an appropriate point during the oscillation of the valve.

Tracing the passage of the gases through the turbine, it will be seen, by referring to Figs. 3 and 4, that the nozzle 39 impinges upon the main central turbine-disk at an angle suitable for utilizing the kinetic energy of the moving gas to the best advantage. The moving gas entering through the nozzle 39 engages both series of buckets mean? al;

41 in the periphery of the central disk 42, which, together with the other impeller wheels, is keyed to the main shaft 6 of the turbine, the latter rotating upon -ball bearings 43 mounted in'the main casting of the turbine chamber at the ends and at two intermediate points. As the turbine-disk rotates in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 3), the gas remains in the buckets until the latter reach the longitudinal passage 44 located at the outer edge of the impeller 'wheel 42 at a point rather less than ninety degrees in angular spacing from the entering nozzle 39. The gas entering this longitudinal passage 44 divides, half of 'it passing longitudinally in either direction to the next nozzle 45, shown dotted in Fig. 3, this nozzle being located approximately at an angle of ninety degrees from the first nozzle 39. It will be noticed that the gases in passing from the nozzle 89 to the nozzle 45 always retain a general direction of travel corresponding to the direction of rotation of the turbine, this being the case also as the gas progresses through the turbine,l through succeeding nozzles and impeller wheels. The gases impinge upon the buckets of the wheels 46 through the nozzles 45, and are carried around to a second set of longitudinal openings similar to the openings 44, and situated at an angle of ninety degrees therefrom. rlhese openings lead the now partiallyexpanded gases toa pair of nozzles (not shown) associated with the wheels 47, which carry the partially spent gases to the final wheels 48, through the two longitudinal openings 49 at the bottom of the casing, which are connected to nozzles not shown. The finally exhausted gases pass out of the casing through a pair of pipes 50 communicating with openings at the periphery of the final wheels 48. It will be seen, from lreferenceto Fig. 4, that the initial rows of buckets in the central impeller disk are the smallest of thel series, the buckets successively increasing in size as the gases pass through the turbine and operate on succeeding wheels. It is understood, of course, that all of the impeller wheels are securely keyed to the shaft 6 and rotate at the same speed.

Ignition is e'ected by means of the vibrating spark coil 51 supplied with current from the battery 52, the high-tension current being conducted from the binding post 53 to the spark plug. by means of a wire 54. The primary circuit of the coil 51 is made and broken by virtue of a breaker mechanism, of

which a detail View is given in Fig. 9. Upon an extension of the head 25 of the detonating chamber is mounted a fiber block 55, which carries at the outside thereof .a bent-up piece of strap metal 56, to which is secured the diagonal guide-member 57. llhe block 55 is further provided with a longitudinally extending aperture within which slides the contact block 58, the lower portion of which is threaded to fit the adjusting screw 59. The latter is rotatably mounted in the block 55, and is suitably prevented from moving longitudinally therewith, so that when the screw 59 is turned by means of the knurled head 60, the block 58 will be moved longitudinally a definite amount. Attached to the block 58 is a pointer 61, the 75 end of which is bent at right angles to register with a graduated scale 62 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. l). |This graduated scale comprises a length of spring metal attached at one end to the block 55, and the other end being bent over at a suitable angle to engage the milled collar 63 fixed to the screw 59; this is to insure against accidental false movements of the screw 59, owing tovibration or other causes. The insulated contact block 58 is connected through the metal of the screw 59 to the binding post 64, the base of which forms a bearing for a shouldered neck on the end of the adjusting screw 59', one side of the primary circuit of the induction coil being connected to the binding post 64 by a wire 65 thev other terminal of the circuit being grounded on any convenient part of the metallic frame of the turbine in the usual manner. 0n the end of the shaft l2a 95 is adjustably secured a small arm 65, which carries firmly attached to its lower end a leaf spring 66, which is of such a length that when the shaft 12a is oscillated, the end of the spring engages the cam block 57, and an intermediate contact piece 661 mounted on the spring, engages the contact block 58 as the spring passes under the cam ,block 57. The latter is of such shape and length,`and is located at such distance from the center of the shaft 12a, that when the latter oscillates, the end of the spring 66 first engages the cam surface 67 of the camblock, and is then carried along the under side of the latter until the end of the spring passes beyond the point 68 and flies up into its original normal plane of oscillation. As previously stated, when passing along the under surface of the cam jblock, an intermediate portion of the spring1 makes contact 4with the 115 block 58, and so energizes the spark coil 51v in an obvious manner. As the shaft oscillates in the reverse direct-ion, theJ end of the spring 66, in its return movement, strikes the cam surface 69 of the cam block, is de- 120 flected above guide 57, and is thus prevented from making contact with the block 58. Consequently ignition is effected only during the oscillations of the shaft 12"L in one direction.

Describing the operation of the turbine, and assuming that the tank l has been previously charged with compressed air and that all of the controlling valves 70, 71, 72 and 9 have been opened, the valve 27 is w@ turned slightly, and the air-motor 26 starts to operate and oscillate the valve 17 back and forth. Assuming that the fuel ,port 36 is the first port that happens to be in register with the port 19 of the valve, air under l pressure will be forced through the valve 71 and the pipe 74, and will meet a stream of gasolene spray in the mixing connection 75, between which and the gasolene reservoir 10 the spray nozzle (not shown) is located. The explosive mixture will thus enter the chamber through the check valve 76 and the open ports until the pressure in the chamber is equal to the pressure in the tank, or until the ports close and the supply is thus shut olf. While this is occurring, the piston of the air-motor has commenced its outward movement, the valve starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow 77 (see Fig. 6), and the port 19 passes out of register with the port 36, and shortly afterward uncovers the orifice 37 within which the spark plug 38 is located. At the proper moment (which can be regulated by adjusting the milled screw-head 60), the arm 66 makes contact with the contact block 58 and grounds the latter, completing the circuit through the primary winding of the spark coil 51. Ignition then takes place. While all the above has happened, the port 10has been closed, but shortly after ignition has taken place, the valve 17, continuing its oscillation in the same direction, brings the port 18 in register with the port 40, which, as previously stated,.admits the high-pressure exploded mixture to the initial nozzle of the turbine. The latter accordingly is at once put in motion, and the gases are carried away by the buckets in the periphery of the impeller disks, which receive the direct impact of the explosion as the high-pressure gas is admitted through the port 40. The port 40 remains in communication with the detonating chamber for a considerable length of time, in fact, long enough for the entire exploded charge to pass out of the nozzle. Just before the valve reaches its extreme limit of oscillation in the direction ofthe arrow 77, the port 19 comes into register with the scavenging port 35, and air from the tank passes into the chamber through the pipe 34a and check valve 78. This cleans out the remnants of the spen-t gases, the scavenging effect also being augmented by the suction produced in the wake of the exploded gases passing out of the nozzle at high velocity, and being carried offl by the buckets of the turbine. Independently of the last-named action, however, scavenging is effected expeditiously and'completely by the air forced into the 'chamber through the port 35. Shortly after piston of the air-motor commences to move in the other direction, the valve also commences its reverse oscillation, and quickly closes the port 35. Since the port 40, however, is still open, the excess of pressure in the valve chamber is dissipated through the nozzle, and owing to the suction effect previously referred to, the chamber is partially exhausted before the port 40 is closed. Continuing its oscillation in the direction of the arrow 79, the valve, filled with comparatively rareiied air, as just described, again travels around to a point where the valve port 19 registers with the fuel-inlet port 36, and a fresh explosive charge is admitted. Shortly after the port 36 has been completely opened, the valve commences to oscillate in the reverse direction.v that is, the direction of the arrow 77, and the cycle of operations is repeated. The mechanical power generated by the turbine is transmitted and taken off bv means of a coupling 80, which is keyed to the end of the shaft 6.

It is apparent from a study of the above cycle of operations that the speed of the tur bine does not depend solely upon either the air pressure of the tank, the richness of the mixture, or the rate of oscillation of the shaft 12a. If the power requirements, that is, the load upon the turbine, increase, the speed of rotation at once commences to dro'p, but the air-motor 26 still keeps on running at the saine speed as before, since it is supplied with air at constant pressure from the tank 1. The detonating chamber always receives a full and complete charge of explosive mixture just so long as the valve is reciprocating at a speed below which wire-drawing occurs, and thus it is obvious that a single adjustment of the proportion of gasolene and air will suiiice for all conditions of load and speed of the turbine, the regulation of which for varying loads and speeds is accomplished by operating the regulating valve 27, and thus increasing or decreasing the rate of oscillation and consequent frequency of the explosions. If for any reason the turbine is stalled by reason of excessive load, the leakage past the buckets on the impeller disks may be insuiicient to carry 0H the exploded mixture, and the detonating chamber may possibly become choked with burning gases at high temperature and pressure. However, nothing is to be feared on this account, since back firing or escape of exhaust into the air tank is prevented by the use of the check valves 78 and 76 located in the air-inlet and mixture-inlet pipes, respectively. An even pressure is maintained in the tank 1 by running the air pumps at a suitable speed to supply enough air for the turbine when the latter is running at its slowest speed, and when the explosions are of maximum frequency; ex-

Lineair l cess of pressure in the tank at other times being taken care of by equipping the latter with a safety valve, not shown. l

Since the active buckets on each disk occupy rather less than ninety degrees of arc, it is possible to equip the turbine with several detonating chambers and associated apparatus. llt is also obvious that, instead of gasolene, any suitable liquid or gaseous fuel may be employed by slightly changing minor details connected with the fuel inlet. 1n any case, I' do not Wish to be limited 'by the details of construction shown except as specified in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. ln an internal combustion engine, the

combination of a Wheel-casing, a turbine- Wheel Within said casing, means for at intervals igniting a charge of explosive fluid and then admitting the exploded mixture to the turbine-Wheel When ignition is complete,

and means for varying the length of said intervals independently of the speed of the turbine-Wheel.

2. lin an internalV combustion engine, the combination of a Wheel-casing, a turbine- Wheel Within said casing, an explosion chamber, means for at intervals admitting an explosive mixture to said chamber, means for igniting the mixture, means for connecting said chamber with the turbine- Wheel after ignition has been e'ected, and means for varying the length of the intervals between the admission of said charges to the turbine-Wheel. v

3. In an internal combustion enginethe combination of a Wheel-casing, a turbine- Wheel Within said casing, an explosion chamber, means for at intervals admitting an explosive mixture to said chamber, means for.

igniting the mixture, means for connecting said chamber with the turbine-Wheel after ignition has been eHected, and means for varying the length of the intervals between the admission of said charges to the turbine- Wheel independently of the rotative speed of the Wheel.

4. In a gas turbine, the combination of a` turbine-Wheel, a stationary casing for said Wheel, a stationary combustion chamber associated with said turbine-casing and having an inlet port connected to the fuel supply and an outlet port connected With the turbine, .a valve arranged to open and close said ports, and means for actuating said valve to place the chamber alternately in operative communication with the outlet and the inlet ports.

5. In a gas turbine, the lcombination of a4 turbine-Wheel, a casing for said Wheel, a stationary cylindrical casing provided with an inlet port and an outlet port communicating `with said turbine, a `rotary valve Within said casing adapted to open and close said inlet and outlet ports, and means for `ture to said cylinder, and an outlet port communicating with the turbine-Wheel, a revoluble valve mounted Within said combustion chamber and adapted alternately to i open and close said intake and outlet ports, and means for igniting said explosive mixture.

7. lin a gas turbine, the combination of a turbine-Wheel, a casing for said Wheel, a stationary cylinder provided with an intake port for the admission of an explosive mixture to said cylinder, an outlet port communicating with the turbine-Wheel,arevolu ble valve mounted -Within said combustion chamber and adapted alternately to open and close said intake and outlet ports, means for igniting said explosive mixture, and means for regulating the speed of rotation of said valve independently of the speed of rotation of said turbine. 1

8. ln a gas turbine, the combination of a turbine-Wheel, a casing for said vvheel, a stationary cylinder provided Witli-. .fan intake n close said intake and outlet ports, means for igniting said explosive mixture, and means for regulating the speed of rotation of said valve independently of the speed of rotation of said turbine.

9. 1n a gas turbine, the combination of a Wheel and its casing, a combustion chamber provided with an outlet to the Wheel, valve mechanism controlling said outlet, a motor for actuating said valve mechanism, and means for firing an explosive mixture in the combustion chamber While the outlet port is closed,tl1ev valve 'mechanism being arranged to open said outlet after a suiiicient time has elapsed to complete ignition and enable the exploded mixture to attain its maximum pressure.

10. ln a gas turbine, the combination of a turbine-Wheel and its casing, a combustion chamber, an independently driven valveactuating motor, means for firing an explosive mixture in the combustion chamber While the outlet is closed, and valve mechasaid ports, an independent motor for operating said valve mechanism, the valve mechanism being properly timed so as to admit the completely exploded charge to the turbine-Wheel when at its maximum pressure, the turbine-Wheel receiving the direct impact of the exploded mixture.

12. In a gas turbine, the combination of an air receiver7 a fuel reservoir, a turbine- Wheel and its casing, an air-pump driven by the turbine for maintaining pressure for charging the air receiver, a combustion chamber provided With an air inlet, a fuel inlet and an outlet port, valve mechanism controlling said ports, and an air motor for driving said valve mechanism independently of the turbine.

18. In a gas turbine, the combination of a turbine-Wheel and its casing, an air receiver,

a pump for charging said air receiver, a 20 said combustion chamber and controlling 2 said ports, a motor for actuating said valve driven independently of the turblne, and

means for igniting a charge of explosive mixture Within said chamber, the valve mechanism being arranged to open the outlet port after ignition has been completed and When the charge has reached its maxlmum pressure.

GEORGE ERLINGER.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE SPENCER, ALBERT G. MANN. 

